Do you know the Zen story of the young man who crosses Japan to reach the school of a famous martial arts master?
When he arrives at the dojo, the teacher asks him:
“What can I do for you?”
The boy replies: “I want to study with you and become the best fighter in the whole region.”
“How long will it take me?“
“10 years at least,” the teacher replies. “10 years is a very long time – replies the boy – What if I study two times more than all your students?“
“20 years then” – the master replies.
The boy, puzzled, replies “and if I train all day and night long with all of myself? “
“30 years,” the teacher replies.
At this point the young man replies: “How is it possible that the more I say that I will work hard, the longer it will take me?“
“The answer is simple – concludes the master – “when you have one of your eyes fixed on the goal, you have only the other one left to find the way. »
How would you interpret this story?
Personally I consider it an important reminder of how it is not necessarily a more intense effort that can help us get sooner to the destination we have in mind, but rather an attention to the quality of our effort.
Doing better step by step than trying to do more by burning down the steps will put less stress and anxiety in our lives.
It’s a bit like when we train our body. Practising intensive sports from time to time will only serve to traumatize your body. While a constant but carefully calibrated effort allows us not only to achieve lasting results, but to make each step of the journey much more enjoyable.
How could you reduce the intensity of the effort by improving its quality?